AUGUSTUS JOHN (1878-1961) & OTHERS

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AUGUSTUS JOHN (1878-1961) & OTHERS
A 2pp. a.l.s. by Augustus John dated Fryern Court, Fordingbridge, Hants, May 2nd, 1939, to his literary agent, M.S. Wilde, explaining that a bout of influenza has delayed the writing of his autobiography; he hopes to make progress with it before too long, and expects it to be a success 'I quite understand your disappointment...You can imagine this prolonged period of debility has not been amusing and apart from the book I have had to defer a considerable amount of work...including an exhibition...the idea of the book has developed and interests me more & more..'; together with five other a.l.s. including another by Augustus John and those by Sir Herbert Reed, Sir Sidney Cockerell, Sir Thomas Lawrence and a signed postcard of Ernest Waterlow. (6)

Lot Essay

John's autogbiography 'Chiaroscuro' was finally published in 1952, nearly 15 years after the contract for it had first been signed. The letter above is quoted by Michael Holroyd in Volume II of his prize-winning 'Augustus John. A Biography' (1975, p.180).

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